Here we go again…A-Roid is stirring up trouble and controversy in the Yanks clubhouse. This really makes me wonder how the new guys are handling this situation… Sabathia, Texeira…Should they be worried too? I suppose time will tell.

After hearing Alex’s Rodriguez’s explanation after testing positive of using performance enhancing drugs, the Yankees are all but eager to help A-Rod move forward.

The Yankees broke media silence on A-Rod’s predicament just hours after the latter talked in an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons.
The statement reads: “We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the Commissioner to continually improve the testing process,”

“We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs.  We take him at his word that he was.  Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex — like all of us — is a human being not immune to fault.

“We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never truer than in times of adversity.  Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions.  We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season.”

Rodriguez stated that he had been in constant communication with Yankees officials and also with teammate Andy Pettitte, who also confessed of using human growth hormone almost one year ago.

Before Rodriguez’s interview was televised, shortstop Derek Jeter and catcher Jorge Posada told reporters from the club’s Himes Avenue Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. Both said that they support Alex.

“Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever,” Posada said. “I’m going to support him any way I can.”
Jeter uttered his concern that the results of the 2003 testing, which was supposed to be unspecified, gauged to see if a test was to be repeated the following year.

“They said when the Mitchell Report came out, ‘This is the end of it, everyone will move on,’” Jeter said. “Now we have this. What if something else happens? … The thing about the list that you’re supposedly concerned with is the fact that it was supposed to be anonymous.”
Both Jeter and Posada were asked if they were bothered that they might be included on the similar testing as Rodriguez’s, both Yankee player said they weren’t. “Why would I worry about me being on the list?” Jeter said. “I think that I’ve done things right,” said Posada, “and I don’t think I put anything on my body that could be positive on one of those tests.”

This season will surely be the time for A-Rod to face. In his interview still with Gammons, he spoke of the Yankees’ chances this 2009 season and is excited to play with new teammates CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. A-Rod also was relieved since he spoke about the three stained seasons with the Rangers.

“The most important thing for me in my career is to be honest and forthright, to go into my ‘09 season as part of the greatest organization in the world, as one of the guys to go out and try to reach our goal,” Rodriguez said. “And when you have that monkey on your back, it’s really hard to be the person that you know you can be. It’s hard to fulfill your potential that way.”

After Randy Wolf returned to the rotation, the Dodgers brought back another familiar face to vie for the bullpen slot.

Jeff Weaver, winning 27 games while making 68 starts for the Dodgers during the 2004-05 season, signed an ML contract, plus a slot in Spring Training this Saturday at the club’s new Camelback Ranch-Glendale facility in Arizona.

Weaver contacted the Dodgers, telling the team of him pitching out of the bullpen after pitching in the Minor League in 2008. In turn, he will be earning $500,000 if he makes the roster.

Originally acquired by the Dodgers from the Yankees in a Kevin Brown trade, wanted a big deal after the 2005 season that wasn’t coming from the Dodgers after pitching 224 innings. Noticing that his market was limited, he signed a one year contract with the Angels in mid February of 2006.

By the end of June, a 3-10 Weaver was traded to St. Louis, where he was a different player. He pitched at the World Series clincher and despite the recovery, he was allowed to leave by the Cardinals and signed with Seattle in 2007, but with shoulder problems, Weaver finished the season at 7-13.

Being a free agent last 2008, he had Minor League stints with Milwaukee and Cleveland, but no Major League appearance. After leaving the Dodgers, his composite ERA for both leagues was at 6.00.

Also expected to be in the Dodgers’ huddle this year are relievers Relievers are Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo, Cory Wade, James McDonald, Guillermo Mota and Scott Elbert. The Dodgers are also considering Will Ohman, Dennys Reyes and Jamey Wright to be in the bullpen.

The club also announced that they are in terms with left-hander Shawn Estes and right-handers Ronald Belisario, Charlie Haeger and Tanyon Sturtze, all on Minor League deals with big league camp invites.

Just five days before the opening of Spring Training, second baseman Adam Kennedy was granted by the Cardinals his unconditional release last Monday, making it the Franchise’s most daring move of the off season, and they are still required to pay Kennedy for the remainder of his contract.

Kennedy is now eligible to sign with any team he wishes. In a usual scenario, any released player who signs with another club, it is the role of the new team to pay the said player the Major League minimum, and the original team fills in the slot for the rest of the contract. Kennedy is allocated $4 million in 2009 for his last season of a three year contract with the Cardinals.

Kennedy batted .280 with a .321 on base percentage and a .372 slugging percentage last year and sensing that his playing time was being cut, requested to be traded. Unable to work out a deal, the Cardinals held Kennedy until Monday.

“I tried to exhaust the trade market,” General Manager John Mozeliak said. “We thought we might have something happening that really came to an end this weekend. At that point it was just time. It was more fair for both parties to do it now than wait a couple weeks.”

The Cardinals are now facing to fill the spot Kennedy had left them. With no real favorite to man the second base, the potentials in which the Cardinals would be having are Brian Barden, Brendan Ryan, outfielder Skip Schumaker and Joe Thurston.
Other options for the Cadrinals are free agents Orlando Hudson, Ray Durham and former Cardinals player Mark Grudzielanek.

“Right now, we’re going to go with what we have,” Mozeliak said. “We would like to do this internally if we could, and we do have confidence that we can.”
On the lighter side though, if outfielder Skip Schumaker shows his qualifications playing second base, it could clear the Cardinals’ way for top priority Colby Rasmus to suit up for Opening Day.

Manager Tony La Russa was consulted in lieu with the Kennedy scenario, and was in favor of releasing Kennedy. The General Manager also stated that (the move) is a key point in order to make sure that everyone on the roster is on the same track.
“It was something that Tony and I have talked about the last few weeks in trying to put our best foot forward with our team,” Mozeliak said.
“I do think this was an opportunity to inject some energy into that position and really show that we are moving this club in a newer direction.”

[youtube width="400" height="300"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RemxD6AkVtc[/youtube]

Issues concerning Alex Rodriguez would always be on a constant shadow for the league, whether it may be good, bad, or otherwise.

“The Yankee Years”, a 447 page book by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci should’ve sparked the not so entertaining days of Spring Training even if the CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira controversies weren’t interesting enough.

All of a sudden, no one is that interested in what was noted in the book: people in the clubhouse calling him “A-Fraud,” rumors of him opposing with Derek Jeter and the ever so popular peanut butter and jelly sandwich agenda

With Sports Illustrated’s shocking story last Saturday that ARod had tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his AL MVP season last 2003, current terms such as testosterone and Primobolan, is twisting the tale to another direction.

Although there were no penalties for testing positive during the 2003 survey, it is safe to say that Rodriguez is in no danger of a suspension that would deteriorate his 2009 season.

Rodriguez’s wealth is on the safe side as well: Sources told Sports Illustrated that the 10 year, $275 million contract is still on the go, since there is no word about the steroids news that would put Rodriguez on the line.

Is it safe to say that A-Rod is the complete package: All his potential as well as the shadows of controversies all molded into one person?

“No,” A-Rod said then. Sunbathing topless in Central Park, and scoring Madonna’s cell number can be one way to put it.

Torre praised Rodriguez for his work ethic, but at the same time commented on the latter for gaining too much attention in the clubhouse.

He also made it a point to note Rodriguez’s measures, although it is not always true. One thing is on the honest point though; A-Rod was indeed a steroid user.

A number of writers have already promised in print that they will not vote for Rodriguez as a Hall of Famer, according to a Sports Illustrated article. But with his contract not expiring until the end of 2017, decisions could very well be changed overnight, considering Rodriguez’s name should appear on the 2002 ballots.

With 553 home runs under his belt, Rodriguez only needs 210 more to surpass the record held by Barry Bonds, a likely feat that would soon be accomplished in the near future.

Instilled with his provocative actions is the media, wherein flocks of reporters, writers and not to mention critics going where the Yankees go, those responses is short lived since Alex Rodriguez is rumored to be in the Bahamas.

It was on a lone summer that Any Pettitte stole the limelight away from A-Rod. Before his teammates and the media, Pettitte apologized for his actions, which he described to be “stupid and desperate”.

When Randy Johnson pitches, everything stops and every eye is on him, waiting for yet another strike out. Last Saturday, he provide a glance of what is yet to come and what came to help him win 295 games, strike out 4,789 batters and of course five CY Young awards.

Below are some of the questions the left handed pitcher answered with a smile, and, despite all of his achievements, with immense humility.

Advise to young pitchers:

“There’s nothing in this game I haven’t done. You’re wondering whether you’re ever going to win a ballgame. And then I’ve won 10 games in a row. I’ve had surgeries. I’ve had to battle back from those kind of things.

“I’ve had bad games. I know how you can mentally be dragging a little bit towards the end of the year. I know the demands that Tim [Lincecum] will have this year after winning the Cy Young. The door is opening for Brandon Webb. The door is opening for a player like Tim Lincecum. “I won a Cy Young in Seattle and then I came to Arizona and won four in a row. Ironically enough, my best year statistically wasn’t until I won my fifth Cy Young.

Randy Johnson: The type of pitcher:

“At this point in my career, my ability and my skills may have diminished, but not my edge or my desire to still be good. As long as I have that, that’s what motivates me. That’s what motivated me and that’s why I was so dangerous, I suppose, because I could throw 100 mph and I wanted to win. Now I still want to win, but I can win throwing 92 and it’s made me a better pitcher, as well.”

The possibility of his 300^th victory with the Giants and not with Arizona or Seattle.

I’ve done a lot in Arizona; it would have been fitting to do it there. It’s not like I’m not familiar with the San Francisco Giants. I’ve pitched against them quite a bit. I’m familiar with the ballpark. I’m familiar with the Bay Area. It’s where I grew up. It’s as good of a last chapter, if you will, of my career that there could be.”

There’s not a blank page yet. We’re still filling the page up. The author’s still at work. I haven’t had a 5.00 ERA since, because my back has been surgically fixed. If I do, I’ll retire.”

2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard signed a three-year contract worth $54 million, on an extension deal with the Phillies, and laid out his final three years of salary negotiation.

What made the deal so intriguing is the fact that Howard and the Phillies franchise seem to be far apart during previous contract extensions, and it seems both parties will continue doing this process until Howard becomes a free agent after 2011.

“We’re pleased to have gotten this behind us,” Ruben Amaro, General Manager of the Phillies said during a conference at Citizens Bank Park. “I think it’s important for the players to worry about playing baseball; to get them ready to defend our title.”

In an estimate, Howard will be earning $15 million this season, $19 million the following year and $20 million in 2011. Only five players earned more than Howard last year: Alex Rodriguez ($28 million), Jason Giambi ($23.4 million), Derek Jeter ($21.6 million), Manny Ramirez ($18.9 million) and Carlos Beltran ($18.6 million).

Considering that Howard will be declared NL MVP over the next season, his current salary will be added $1 million over the next two years. A Gold Glove Award and All-Star appearances will also spell bonuses for Howard and as well as $1 million if he is traded before Nov. 1, 2010.

“I’m happy to have this done and to know that I’ll be in Philadelphia for at least another three years. Both sides are happy, and now I’m just focused on getting the season started and having fun.” Howard said in a statement

The cost for Howard’s signing certainty was significant since the Phillies tried to evaluate free-agent players or which of their players to extend, like they did this offseason for Howard, Hamels, Madson and Werth.

“We know where we’re at with the dollars on him. My job is to try to put a championship-caliber club on the field every single year, and knowing exactly where the dollars are going to be over the next several years on some of our higher-priced players, it helps me a lot.” Amaro said when asked about the $4 million gap on Howard’s request of $18 million as to the Phillies’ offer of $14 million.

Jimmy Rollins also singed with the Phillies until 2010 and a 2011 club option, Brad Lidge through 2011, 2012 club option, Hamels through 2011 and Chase Utley through 2013.

Amaro said that they made contact with Casey Close, Howard’s agent and also with Howard’s family. Now specific agenda was brought out, but he said they talked about several conditions that would convince Howard to signing a long-term deal.

Amaro was asked if he was disappointed that the Phillies couldn’t sign Howard to a longer deal, he said, “I don’t know if “disappointment” is the way to depict it. … It’s three years, and it’s a significantly long time. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion it was the right thing to do.”

There was also some rumors that the parties had reached an standoff on a multiyear contract with Howard believing to be asking a contract similar to New York Yankees’ Mark Teixeira’s eight-year, $180 million contract. Also, there were some speculations stating that the parties weren’t getting along, even though no real evidence of such came out of the public.

Putting those into perspectives, it is safe to say that Howard didn’t agree to a single contract the Phillies had offered him for the last three years.

“No negotiation is simple, but the goal is always the same,” Amaro said. “Get a deal done, and get a deal that is equitable. We’ve been trying to build a relationship with Casey and Ryan and the family, and I think that at the end of the day, we got done what was necessary, and frankly, it was the right thing to do for our organization. … Things that happened prior with Ryan, I don’t know why, but they were being depicted in a different way. They weren’t adversarial. It was just a matter of us agreeing to disagree, and that happens a lot in any kind of business. I don’t think it made us love Ryan any less, and I don’t think Ryan loved us any less.”